Sustainable Energy

Renewable sources of Electricity are integral to making a Sustainable Maui

Sources

There are four ideal sources for Sustainable Energy on Maui
Click on each Source to learn more
1. Solar Farms – Maui is one of the best places to collect Solar Energy.
2. Waste to Energy – Solve two problems at once by turning garbage into energy.
3. Geothermal – Generate electricity from the Earth.
4. Ocean Power – The ocean is the biggest body of energy.

Current Energy Production

Average Energy Cost: $0.34 / kWh (Highest in the U.S.)
Oil - 58% (251.7 MW)
Maui has three Petroleum Oil Power Plants. Petroleum is imported and burned for energy, polluting our air and environment. Using fossil fuels harvested non-locally means that we're also contributing to the harm of environments outside Hawaii.
Solar - 27% (~127.2 MW)
Energy is collected from the sun by Solar Panels both in Solar Farms and on people's homes.roduce 5.8 MW and the rest is produced by consumer solar panels.
Wind - 15% (72 MW)
There are technically three Wind Farms on Maui. Onshore Wind Turbines use wind to propel their motors and generate electricity.
Data as of 03/31/2021 from Hawaiian Electric

Maui's Need for Renewable Energy

Hawaii has the most expensive electricity costs in the United States. Our prices are so high because we have to import petroleum oil across the Pacific Ocean, as well as oil itself having high and volatile prices. By increasing our investment in renewables we can save lots of money long term and lower the cost of electricity. In 2005, 80% of Hawaii's energy came from burning oil so the state decided to only allow new energy developments to be renewable. That decision was crucial in starting our path towards more environmentally friendly, self-sufficient, and cheaper energy.

As shown in the graph above, Maui has greatly increased its renewable energy production. However, over half of its energy still comes from imported fossil fuels. Our heavy reliance on imported energy leaves us vulnerable to the potentiality of shipments not making it or oil wells going dry. This is why Maui needs to become self-reliant and utilize more of its plentiful renewable resources.

Future Energy Production

Potential Average Energy Cost: ~ $0.14 / kWh (U.S Average)
This is what Maui's energy production could look like in the future if the above renewable energy sources were implemented:
Solar - > 64% (> 302.2 MW)
Over next few years, solar energy will come to produce the majority of Maui's energy needs and will continue to expand as the primary renewable energy source.
Wind - 15% (72 MW)
There currently aren't plans for Maui to expand its wind turbine farms, but at their current rates they'd continue to provide up to 15% of Maui's energy well into the future.
Ocean - ~ 11% (~ 50 MW)
Ocean energy, in the form of both OTEC and Wave Energy, is a very viable energy source for the island. With an offshore OTEC facility and other on-shore methods, the ocean could generate upwards of 50MW of power
Geothermal - ≤ 7% (< 35 MW)
Although geothermal potential is unlikely to be found on Maui, if a geothermal energy plant were to be active it would be able to produce nearly 35MW of baselaod capacity for Maui.
Waste Energy - 3% (15 MW)
A Waste-to-Energy plant may not be able to produce a notable amount of Energy for Maui. However, the more notable benefits of such a plant are, creating a more environmentally friendly form of waste management for the island.
Oil - 0% (< 5 MW)
Eliminating our need to burn oil is an important step towards making Maui more self-sufficient. Initially, solar will be used to quickly replace oil. Hopefully, in the future, renewable sources with longer lifespans (like OTEC and Wind,) will come to support and replace solar.
Sustainable Maui
Designing a more sustainable Maui.
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